How to Omit Auxiliary Verbs in French

French compound tenses typically require an auxiliary verb and a past participle. However, you don't always need to repeat the auxiliary verb when using multiple compound conjugations with the same subject.

Let's break down when you can omit auxiliary verbs and when you must include them.

When to Keep Auxiliary Verbs

Different Tenses or Moods

When using different tenses or moods in the same sentence, include the auxiliary verb for each one. This is because the auxiliary verb creates the specific tense or mood.

Examples:

• J'avais fini mon café quand j'ai vu le chat. (I had finished my coffee when I saw the cat.)
• Après être tombé, il serait allé à l'hôpital. (After falling, he must have gone to the hospital.)

Same Tense/Mood but Different Auxiliary Verbs

Even within the same tense or mood, if you're using different auxiliary verbs, keep them all. In French, we have three situations:

1. Verbs using avoir
2. Intransitive verbs using être
3. Pronominal verbs using être

Examples:

• J'ai vu le chat et (je) suis parti. (I saw the cat and (I) left.)
• Il s'est examiné et (il) est allé à l'hôpital. (He examined himself and (he) went to the hospital.)

Note: Repeating the subject pronoun is optional in these cases.

When You Can Omit Auxiliary Verbs

You can omit duplicate auxiliary verbs when all verbs in the clause:

1. Are in the same tense or mood
2. Use the same auxiliary verb

Examples:

• J'ai lu et écrit pendant toute la nuit. (I read and wrote all night.)
• Il est entré, monté et arrivé à l'heure. (He entered, went upstairs, and arrived on time.)

For pronominal verbs, if you repeat the auxiliary, you must also repeat the reflexive pronoun:

• Tu t'es réveillée et habillée tout seul ? (Did you wake up and get dressed by yourself?)

Conclusion

Omitting auxiliary verbs can make your French sound more fluid and natural. Remember the rules, and when in doubt, include all auxiliary verbs.